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Sheila Malcolmson backs new urgent primary care centre for Nanaimo

BC NDP Candidate Sheila Malcolmson is calling for a new urgent primary care centre in Nanaimo to make it easier for people to access basic healthcare services.

“The BC Liberals made it harder for people to find a family doctor and access basic services,” said Malcolmson. “A new urgent primary care centre would give people in Nanaimo faster and more convenient access to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare services.”

Before the 2017 election, John Horgan announced a plan to improve access to basic healthcare services by opening new urgent primary care centres across BC.

In its first 18 months in power, the BC NDP government has announced five new centres in communities across the province, with more to come.

“John Horgan is delivering on his commitment by announcing new urgent primary care centres across BC and I think Nanaimo should be next,” said Malcolmson. “I’ve spoken with Health Minister Adrian Dix and I believe that by working together, we can get this done for people in Nanaimo.”

In 2013, they refused to act on a report that said Nanaimo hospital had “by far the worst ICU we have seen in Canada” and was “a risk to patients as well as staff.”

“The BC Liberals were warned that the Nanaimo ICU desperately needed to be replaced, but they refused to act,” said Malcolmson.

“After 16 years of BC Liberal choices that hurt healthcare in Nanaimo, John Horgan’s government is turning things around. As Nanaimo’s MLA, I will work to keep improving healthcare in our community. A new primary care centre will be one of my priorities.”

Since coming into office, the BC NDP has taken action to improve healthcare in Nanaimo, including:

Replacing the Nanaimo Hospital ICU;

Increasing the operating hours of the Nanaimo Hospital MRI by 42 hours per week;